ghtered innocents, and remove
them from the cells. Their dead bodies may often be found on the ground
in front of the hive.

When a queen has emerged in the natural way from her cell, the bees
usually nibble away the now useless abode, until only a small acorn cup
remains; but when by violence she has met with an untimely end, they
take down entirely the whole of the cell. By counting these acorn-cups,
it can always be ascertained how many young queens have hatched in a
hive.

Before the queens emerge from their cells, a fluttering sound is
frequently heard, which is caused by the rapid motion of their wings,
and which must not be confounded with the piping notes which will soon
be described. If the bees of the parent stock decide to swarm again, the
first hatched queen is prevented from killing the others. A strong guard
is kept over their cells, and as often as she approaches them with
murderous intent, she is bitten, or otherwise rudely treated, and given
to understand by the most uncourtier-like demonstrations, that she
cannot, in all things, do just as she pleases.

When thus repulsed, like men and women who cannot have their own way,
she is highly offended and utters an angry sound, given forth in a quick
succession of notes, and which sounds not unlike the rapid utterance of
the words, "peep, peep." I have frequently, by holding a queen in the
closed hand, caused her to make the same noise. To this angry note, one
or more of the queens still unhatched, will respond, in a somewhat
hoarser key, just as chicken-cocks, by crowing, bid defiance to each
other. These sounds are entirely unlike the usual steady hum of the
bees, and when heard, are the almost infallible indications that a
second swarm will soon issue. They are occasionally so loud that they
may be heard at some distance from the hive.

About a week after first swarming, the Apiarian should, early in the
morning or at evening, when the bees are still, place his ear against
the hive, and he will, if the queens are piping, readily recognize their
peculiar sounds. If their notes are not heard, at the very latest,
sixteen days after the departure of the first swarm, by which time the
young queens are mature, even if the first colony left as soon as the
eggs were deposited in the royal cells, it is an infallible indication
that the first hatched queen is without rivals in the hive, and that
swarming is over, in that stock, for the season.

The second swar